Firewall and NAT Traversal for Social Networking and/or Content Sharing On Mobile Devices

Abstract

A method for facilitating firewall and NAT traversal during social networking and/or content sharing via a mobile device uses an instant message protocol to establish a near real-time communications session between two user devices on opposite sides of the firewall or NAT enabled router. A first application on a mobile device provides social networking and/or content sharing. A second application on the mobile device establishes a communication session for exchanging near real-time messages between the mobile device and a second device over the firewall or NAT protected network. The second application is associated with the first application and allows the mobile device to access a file associated with the first application that is stored in the second device via the communication session.

1 . A method for facilitating firewall and NAT traversal during social networking and/or content sharing via a mobile device comprising:
 providing a first application for providing social networking and/or content sharing in a mobile device, and   providing a second application for establishing a communication session for exchanging near real-time messages between the mobile device and a second device over a network, wherein the second application is associated with the first application and allows the mobile device to access a file associated with the first application that is stored in the second device via the communication session.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein allowing access a file stored in the second device comprises displaying at least part of the file contents on the first device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein establishing a communication session for exchanging near real-time messages comprises authenticating a contact associated with the second device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second application is arranged to establish the communication session via a server that provides near real-time messages between two or more devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second application is adapted to establish a second communication session for exchanging near real-time messages between the mobile device and a third device over a network, wherein the second application allows the second device to access a file associated with the first application that is stored in the third device via the communication session. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the session for exchanging near real-time messages is a text based instant message session. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the session for exchanging near real-time messages is a file transfer session. 
     
     
         8 . A mobile device for facilitating firewall and NAT traversal during social networking and/or content sharing using the mobiledevice, the device comprising:
 a first application for providing social networking and/or content sharing in a mobile device, and   a second application for establishing a communication session for exchanging near real-time messages between the mobile device and a second device over a network, wherein the second application is associated with the first application and allows the mobile device to access a file associated with the first application that is stored in the second device via the communication session.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 8  wherein the second application is programmed to display the file stored in the second device on the first device. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 8  wherein the second application is programmed to establish the communication session via a server that provides near real-time messages between two or more devices. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 8  wherein the second application is programmed to establish a second communication session for exchanging near real-time messages between the mobile device and a third device over a network, wherein the second application allows the second device to access a file associated with the first application that is stored in the third device via the communication session. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 8  wherein the session for exchanging near real-time messages is a text based instant message session. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 8  wherein the session for exchanging near real-time messages is a file transfer session.